"Several villages have been built here, all connected together.
All the people with the surname Qi had the same houses, and the villages were connected together and built like a city wall.
When they have time, they farm; when they have free time, they train how to fight.
It is our half-military, half-civilian approach that enables us to stop the enemy's attack in times of crisis..."
Li Ye introduced him as he walked around the village.
"It must have cost a lot of money to build the village. Where did all that money come from?"
Yang Xiuyuan asked doubtfully.
"I paid for part of it myself and lent it to the people there first, and will return it after the harvest.
As for making bricks and building houses, the people of the Zhou family worked together and helped each other build them.
At the same time, we also do business with the barbarians and can make a lot of money.
After all, the barbarians are very dangerous over there and often rob passing caravans.
Therefore, Dayuan's merchants no longer dare to enter the grassland to do business. They ship their goods here, and we trade with them."
"I see. No wonder he can support so many people. His Highness the Sixth Prince is truly amazing."
Li Ye smiled and continued to lead the way.
"Let me show you the benefits of migrating here with the surname Qi!"
Walking through the village, you can see the cultivated fields. The wheat that was planted has begun to turn green and become lush.
The entire prairie stretched as far as the eye could see, transformed from a barren landscape into fertile farmland.
Yang Xiuyuan stared at the wheat field in amazement.
The fields here are trimmed very neatly, like neat squares.
There are ditches at the edge of the fields to bring water from the river.
When the fields are dry, you just need to dig the canals and water will flow directly to the fields, making it very convenient to irrigate them.
Such fertile land is definitely the best land in Dayuan. It not only has a high price but also has a good harvest.
As long as there is no flood disaster, we can definitely get a good harvest.
To complete such a huge project, even with all the national strength of Qi Dayuan, it would take a lot of effort to complete it.
Yang Xiuyuan was shocked for a long time before he reacted.
"Could this be the wasteland that His Highness has newly reclaimed?"
"Yes, it looks okay, right?" Li Ye asked with a smile.
“This is not just good, it’s incredible.
I have heard that Your Highness has just moved the population here since the beginning of the Northern Song Dynasty. It has only been a short time and you have done so many things.
How much fertile land are there?
The speed of this land reclamation is simply astonishing!"
Li Ye gazed into the distance and said with emotion, "In fact, the people of the surname Zhou are all very hardworking. As long as the government does not set up obstacles, they will work very hard.
I provided them with a large number of livestock and each family had at least thirty acres of land.
Logically speaking, with so much land, one can live a good life.
I think anyone who has the ability to plant more land should plant more land.
Especially today, the enemy invaded, and everyone fought with the enemy to the death in order to protect their homes.
Protect your home with all your strength.
They didn't need too many orders from their generals, they fought harder than anyone else.
Only by uniting as one and fighting to the death can we defeat the enemy.
It seemed unrealistic for the imperial court or Lord Yang to want to annihilate hundreds of thousands of barbarian cavalry.
Prince Xiao didn't find it strange at all.
Because this is their home, the support of their entire family, and the hope of their generations.
No matter how powerful the enemy is, they will do their utmost to defeat them."
Li Ye glanced at Yang Xiuyuan, who was shocked.
He continued to explain, “Lord Yang saw that I sold the soldiers to the barbarians and felt that I was guilty of betraying Dayuan.
But it can be exchanged for more cattle and sheep, allowing the people to live better and cultivate more land.
This will allow Dayuan to grow more crops.
In the future, we can provide all the food and fodder needed by the border troops.
And if the enemy invades, all the people of the Zhou clan will take up arms to protect their homeland.
The imperial court no longer had to worry about enemy troops invading and plundering the people every day.
There is no need to worry about the huge expenditure of food and wages at the border anymore.
Lord Yang, which method do you think is better to deal with the enemy country? "
After hearing this, Yang Xiuyuan fell silent, but his heart was already in turmoil.
For a moment I didn't know how to answer.
According to the laws of the imperial court, the Sixth Prince's provision of military supplies to the enemy country was indeed an unforgivable crime.
But selling these weapons could feed tens of thousands of people.
It can solve all the military pay problems at the border, and the court can save tens of thousands of taels of silver every day.
Completely got rid of a huge burden.
With this money, we can do a lot of things and provide quick disaster relief when disasters occur.
It can dredge the canal and reinforce the river embankment in time to prevent future flood disasters and make transportation smoother.
These are all great things for our country and its people.
The key point is that in order to protect their own interests, the local people would take up arms to resist when the enemy invaded.
It can tie down a large number of enemy troops and prevent them from invading at will.
It can help the army guard the border.
In comparison, although it does not conform to the laws of the court, it is indeed more harmful to the court.
Li Ye continued, "We can eventually relocate tens of thousands of households here, which will require at least two hundred thousand oxen, or even more.
If every family raises oxen for farming, they can cultivate more land.
In his spare time, he could plow more fields and grow crops for the court.
They were given a certain amount of money, and the rest of the income went to the court.
If only all the land in the north could be cultivated.
The grain produced every day was more than the imperial court could consume, and even more than the land tax collected..."
Li Ye calculated the expected harvest of all the fields for him on the spot.
Yang Xiuyuan was completely shocked.
All the fields in the north were cultivated, and grain output doubled.
Such a large amount of food can not only feed the troops stationed at the border, but also feed the entire population of the capital city after being transported back.
There may even be a surplus.
At this moment, Yang Xiuyuan only felt admiration.
He truly deserves to be the Sixth Prince. No matter where he goes, he can quickly make it prosperous.
It is entirely conceivable that after the fields are harvested, all the people with the surname Qi who have migrated here will become wealthy. Not only will they not lack food, but they will also eat white flour all day long.
Such a life is unimaginable for the people of the Qi clan in Dayuan.
Yang Xiuyuan took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness has indeed served the country and its people, but selling weapons to the enemy is against the law.
Even if I agree with Your Highness, I am afraid that the ministers in the court will use this as an excuse to attack Your Highness.
Whether or not His Highness's crimes can be forgiven remains to be determined by the Emperor."
Li Ye waved his hand and said, "Master Yang, don't worry. I didn't ask you to come and watch so that you could help me lie and cover up the truth.
But he was able to report the truth to his father.
Also, please have Lord Yang convey a message to the Emperor."
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